They raised a fantastic £4,551 in sponsorship in aid of military charity Help for Heroes and in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby, who was brutally hacked to death by knife-wielding fantatics in broad daylight in Woolwich, London, in May.

At 164 miles, the route was slightly longer than the standard Coast 2 Coast, starting in Silloth, Cumbria, taking in Brampton and Hexham and finishing at the South Durham Social Club, known as the steelworks club, in Westbourne Road, Hartlepool.

It brings the total Dwane, 47, a dad-of-two from the Rift House area, has helped to raise for local charities in the past 17 years to close to £60,000.

The ride took place in the last week of September but the friends have just revealed the total raised.

Dwane, said: “The weather was fantastic apart from the last day and going up the banks was gruesome, there was a lot of wind in our faces.

“We finished at the steelworks club and there was 70 to 80 friends and family waiting for us, it was emotional.”

He thanked Hartlepool ﬁrm D&M Cabling Solutions which provided support vehicles on the tough trip, as well as Carl Monsen for helping him to organise the event, and everyone who sponsored the group.